Desperate Housewives sued for assault by Nicollette Sheridan

Nicollette Sheridan loved playing Edie Britt on “Desperate Housewives.” For the flirtatious, man-eating Ms. Britt, it was suitable to be voluntarily smacked around in the bedroom. But being smacked around by the producers of the program behind the scenes and terminated without good cause didn’t make for a good day on Wisteria Lane.

Nicollette Sheridan is suing the producers of “Desperate Housewives” for assault and wrongful termination, according to the New York Times, and they might very much end up in need of paydayloans.

What happened, and was Nicollette Sheridan’s character killed over it?

Nicollette Sheridan’s lawsuit claims that during an incident that occurred in September, 2008, she was struck by Marc Cherry, creator of the well-liked nighttime soap opera, when she asked Cherry about a line within the script. Marc Cherry’s alleged response was to take Nicollette Sheridan aside and “forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head,” says the Associated Press.

Her pleas are reported to have fallen on deaf ears, when Nicollette Sheridan went straight to ABC to complain about Marc Cherry’s alleged violent treatment. Not long after, Edit Britt was killed off. Sheridan believes it was retaliation by ABC because she dared to “make a fuss.”

Edie Britt’s death – what caused it?

It’s nothing like the usual love triangle or a revenge-seeking sequel. Zap2It profiles the fateful 2009 episode of “Desperate Housewives,” and it was a patented deadly automobile crash. Orson was “running across the street after one of his breaking and entering,” and Edie swerved to stay clear of hitting him. Her auto struck a utility pole, and downed power lines hit the puddle of water into which Edie’s body had settled. In a real double whammy, collision and electrocution claimed her.

Remembering Nicollette Sheridan’s character, flashback episodes of “Desperate Housewives” followed instantly after that episode. In two of the flashbacks, interestingly, Edie “smacks” some senses into Lynette and Bree in hopes they uncover the strength to face their problems. Mrs. McCluskey “smacks” some sense into Edie’s son Travis when he finds out about her death and is barely fazed. In the final smack, Mrs. McCluskey “smacks down” Edie for her effort to sympathize with McCluskey over having lost a son.

Is all that smacking coincidence?

It is an interesting word choice on the part of Zap2It, considering Nicollette Sheridan’s experience with Marc Cherry. It might be argued coincidental, since the episode aired more than likely before the smack down was public knowledge. But the death of Edie itself was explained away in Gabby’s flashback from the exact same episode, where Nicollette Sheridan’s character confided that she will be meeting death before her 50th birthday. How convenient of you, ABC. Only time will tell if Nicollette Sheridan smacks you down and leaves you crying for secured loans.